Raps filed vs. drug dealer

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Thursday filed criminal charges against a man caught selling shabu to a PDEA agent disguised as a drug dependent.

Suspect Mark Alvarez Sansona was charged with violation of the Philippine Dangerous Drugs Act (PDEA) following his arrest last Tuesday near the premises of a mall in the provincial capital Kidapawan City.

PDEA agent Vince Lachica, who led the buy-bust operation that led to Sansona’s arrest, said they are still trying to determine the source of the shabu the suspect peddled to local buyers.

Lachica said there is possibility that Sansona’s supplier is based in Cotabato City, a major transhipment point for illegal drugs.

Lachica said agents recovered from Sansona’s possession the marked money used in the drug deal and the shabu he was to sell to a PDEA operative.